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what licence to sell produce do I get?
Chlo
Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg
this year finally having a garden, I've got an awfull lot of extra plants and was wondering what licence do I get to be able to sell extra fruit and veg I've grown from home?
0
Posts
No idea Chloe, I see lots of people who put tables outside their homes with honesty boxes selling plants and produce, I don't suspect they have a licence. However, I expect if you want to do it commercially such as on a market stall you would need to have one. I'd take a look on your local council website.
As far as I know you don't need a licence, unless you operate as a street trader or market stall holder, licences for which are obtained from your local authority.
I dont think you need a licence. we never had one. The only problem may be if there is a covenant on the deeds preventing you from selling stuff from the premises.
My mum just sticks a sign in the front garden,and an advert in the local paper when the tomato plants are ready. She's been doing that for 40 years now.
Be aware you may not be allowed to trade from your home without some hassle if someone informs on you because you are affecting their business!
I'm thinking of eventually having enough money to make it a business, only just thought of the idea! I don't think there's many other selling apart from those that have allotments behind me but honestly I'd be the only one in the street selling home grown fresh produce, and I think the corner shop would probably buy to sell too. I ain't scared of no tax man! haha I'd rather do things properly, I've read that you need a licence and someone comes to check the produce and the labelling of it but have no clue which licence being a home business and only selling on the door step...
If you turn it into a business (i.e. growing to sell rather than just selling off surplus) you might possibly need a Street Trading Licence and/or Planning Consent. If you're trading from the edge of your property and cars stop to buy it might be seen as a traffic hazard. In the first instance you could seek advice from the Citizen's Advice Bureau.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
i know it would only be pennies earnt but wouldnt it mean that you would be running a business and earning a income from home? tax man would have to be informed and possibly affect house insurance, over the top i know but theres always some do gooders watching 2+2=8 if you get my drift
If your'e selling from your own premises then you don't need a street traders licence.
Street traders licences are exactly what they sound like for trading on the public highway, I still remember the definition from my Police years. You won't be on the public highway so you won't need one. As for planning consent you would have to substantially change the use of the property you are selling from, ie building work, so again that doesn't apply, unless of course you open a Garden Centre in your back garden.
Sorry Chloe, I don't want to dissuade you, I think it's a great idea. Good Luck.
Why not just find out if there is a car boot sale near you and get a plot there every couple of weeks or whenever. It's only about a tenner for a van and you could sell whatever you want. Once people get used to seeing you there they'll maybe buy even more from you and you'd certainly have plenty of potential customers.